The first major content update for Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition is coming today! We’re so excited to deliver patch 2.1.0 to PS4 and can’t wait for you to venture into The Vault, explore the murky corners of The Cesspools, level up your Legendary Gems, and find out just how far you can push your hero in Greater Rifts.

So, what’s new and improved in patch 2.1.0? Let’s take a look!

The “What’s New” Screen

A “What’s New” screen will now appear whenever a player logs into the game (and presses “Start” at the Main Menu) after a new patch has been installed. As the name suggests, this screen will provide a quick overview of new features included in the patch.

The Vault

Whenever Treasure Goblins are defeated, there’s now a chance they will spawn a new type of portal through which players can enter. Inside this mysterious new realm known as “The Vault,” mighty treasures await… along with Sanctuary’s newest boss: the Baroness Greed.

Please note that portals to The Vault can only be accessed in Adventure Mode, and that they will not appear inside Nephalem Rifts or Greater Rifts.

The Cesspools

When adventuring in Nephalem Rifts and Greater Rifts, players will have a chance to encounter a new randomized environment: The Cesspools. Originally designed as the sewers of Westmarch, this festering, dank underworld is ready to explore and plunder!

Greater Rifts

Greater Rifts are a special type of timed Nephalem Rift. There are an infinite number of Greater Rift levels, and each level will be progressively more difficult than the last. Upon completing a Greater Rift, players will be able to choose between one of two rewards: a chance to upgrade their Legendary Gems or (if they complete the Greater Rift level within its allotted time) the opportunity to move on to the next Greater Rift level. Players can continue progressing through Greater Rift levels so long as they complete the current Rift level before its timer expires.

Please note that Greater Rifts can only be accessed in Adventure Mode.

Ramaladni’s Gift

Ramalandni’s Gift is a new Legendary item that will allow players to add a socket to any weapon that does not already have one. This item can drop randomly in the game world and will be consumed on use.

Legendary Gems

Legendary Gems are a new type of gem that can drop in Greater Rifts and The Vault and will offer powerful abilities when socketed into Rings and Amulets. Players will have the opportunity to upgrade their Legendary Gems over time by completing Greater Rifts.

Good luck, nephalem. We wish you fortune and glory in your continued adventures across Sanctuary!

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/10/07/diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls-ps4-updated-today/feed/74http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/diablo.jpg3.63Community Manager, Diablo III740Diablo III on PS4: Blizzard Reveals Details on Ultimate Evilhttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/08/12/diablo-iii-on-ps4-blizzard-reveals-details-on-ultimate-evil/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/08/12/diablo-iii-on-ps4-blizzard-reveals-details-on-ultimate-evil/#commentsTue, 12 Aug 2014 15:00:21 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=137376The High Heavens and Burning Hells have waged war for immeasurable years, their charred husks littering the battlegrounds of the Eternal Conflict. And on August 19th, this legendary battle continues on PS4 in the form of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition.

In the first part of our exclusive behind-the-scenes series, Blizzard discusses its herculean effort to build the Ultimate Evil Edition on PS4 — from refining every moment of action to maximizing the potential of DualShock 4. The team even explores new features that were included exclusively for the PlayStation versions.

If you already began your quest against Malthael in Diablo III on PS3, don’t forget you can continue your progress and bring your hero into Ultimate Evil Edition when it launches next week. Best of luck, Nephalem.
]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/08/12/diablo-iii-on-ps4-blizzard-reveals-details-on-ultimate-evil/feed/30http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/diabloIII1.jpg4.1Social Media Specialist304Diablo III on PS4: New Ultimate Evil Edition Detailshttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/08/07/diablo-iii-on-ps4-new-ultimate-evil-edition-details/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/08/07/diablo-iii-on-ps4-new-ultimate-evil-edition-details/#commentsThu, 07 Aug 2014 15:30:04 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=136915Greetings, nephalem! John Hight here to bring you an update as my team and I prepare to unleash a whole lot of evil on consoles everywhere. I’m pleased to say that on August 19, just two short weeks from now, you’ll be able to lay waste to Malthael and bring peace to the streets of Westmarch from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy with the release of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition.

The Ultimate Evil Edition is filled with all the features, fast-paced action, and legendary loot included in the Reaper of Souls expansion set, as well as all of the content of the original Diablo III. With a new chapter to play through and the new Crusader class to master, plus the freedom to explore endlessly with Adventure Mode, your path to new heights of power will be literally in your DualShock-wielding hands.

I want to remind everyone to get your preorders in if you haven’t already. Doing so will land you a devilishly sweet pair of Infernal Pauldrons, which provide some powerful bonuses for your characters, and they look pretty cool too—a plus considering you can also use them for transmogs (a new feature available in UEE). For those who pre-purchase the game digitally on the PlayStation Store, you’ll also pick up a set of helm and weapon transmog recipes, a Spectral Hound minion, and three additional character slots.

The Ultimate Evil Edition also includes some console-exclusive features—like Apprentice Mode, which boosts lower level players when they’re playing with higher level players; the Nemesis system, which sends monsters that have slain your character on to wreak havoc in your friends’ games; and more—all of which make playing with your friends even more challenging and rewarding. We’ve also teamed up with Sony to bring PS3 and PS4 players some exclusive content: a Nephalem Rift inspired by The Last of Us, and a larger-than-life transmog armor set based on Shadow of the Colossus. If you haven’t seen these yet, you should check them out at our blog.

For players who’ve been holding off on bringing justice to Diablo on console, now is the perfect time to join the fray, as the Ultimate Evil Edition is a maxed-out version of the game, with Diablo III and all of the latest updates for that, plus all of the new content that we launched with the Reaper of Souls expansion. And if you’ve already played Diablo III on console, I have good news for you as well: you’ll be able to transfer your characters over into this new release and continue your adventures—even across console generations.

One more cool piece of news for PS4 players: the next-gen console architecture makes it much easier for us to offer ongoing patch support for the PS4 version of the Ultimate Evil Edition. This means that as we continue to patch the game on PC, we’ll now be able to roll out related patch content, as appropriate, on PS4 as well. It’ll take some additional time beyond the PC patch rollout, but we’ll get them to you as quickly as possible.

After slaving away in the deepest depths of the Burning (development) Hells, I’m excited that the game is almost here and ready for you guys to play. Slay well, nephalem, and we’ll see you in Hell!

Today, we’re also excited to announce that players who take the fight for Sanctuary to their big screen TV on PS3 and PS4 will also enjoy exclusive content based on two popular PlayStation games.

The Last of Us Nephalem Rift

Get ready to endure and survive, nephalem. For the Ultimate Evil Edition, we’ve teamed up with Naughty Dog to create a unique Nephalem Rift inspired by their award-winning The Last of Us. Featuring hand-picked environments from the Diablo III universe and an ominous yellow spore effect, this randomized dungeon level is sure to awaken the survivor in us all.

Oh! And did we mention the monsters? The Last of Us Nephalem Rift is teeming with a series of ravenous creatures modeled after the infamous Stalker, Clicker, and Bloater infected.

Shadow of the Colossus Transmog Set

Raise thy sword by the Light! In addition to The Last of Us Nephalem Rift, the Ultimate Evil Edition will also include a PlayStation exclusive that pays homage to a gaming classic.

Players who purchase Ultimate Evil Edition for PS4 and PS3 will be rewarded with the “Guise of the Colossi,” a unique set of transmogrification plans that unlock six armor appearances inspired by the influential PS2 game, Shadow of the Colossus. These striking appearances will be available to all six larger-than-life classes.

Please note that this exclusive content cannot be transferred to other platforms and will require you to connect to the PlayStation Network to redeem.

The fate of Sanctuary rests in your hands, heroes. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls — Ultimate Evil Edition will be out before summer’s end. Steel yourself for the glorious demon onslaught ahead!

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/06/10/diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls-exclusive-playstation-content-detailed/feed/25http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Diablo-III-RoS.jpg3.96Community Manager, Diablo III250Back to 2013 Sale Starts Tomorrowhttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/02/24/back-to-2013-sale-starts-tomorrow/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/02/24/back-to-2013-sale-starts-tomorrow/#commentsMon, 24 Feb 2014 15:30:14 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=125417Diablo III, Spelunky, Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition, Guacamelee! or Rayman Legends? Pick these games (and more) up this week at up to 50% off, or up to 75% off for PS Plus members.]]>

2014 is starting to fly by — it’s already February! — so we are taking this week to get a bit nostalgic and take a look back at 2013 and highlight some games you might have missed with the Back to 2013 Sale. Starting tomorrow through March 3rd, we’re discounting some great games from the past year, with even deeper discounts for PS Plus members.

Don’t miss out on these sweet games again. The Back to 2013 Sale starts tomorrow and runs through Monday, March 3rd. What games are you going to pick up?

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/02/24/back-to-2013-sale-starts-tomorrow/feed/151http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/backto2013.jpg3.91Digital Distribution Manager, Sony Network Entertainment1518Hands-on with Diablo III (and Reaper of Souls) on PS4http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/11/08/hands-on-with-diablo-iii-and-reaper-of-souls-on-ps4/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/11/08/hands-on-with-diablo-iii-and-reaper-of-souls-on-ps4/#commentsSat, 09 Nov 2013 01:56:32 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=120548good on PS4. The demo I played didn't stutter or hitch once -- 1080p and 60FPS or better throughout, as confirmed by Production Director John Hight when I spoke with him on the show floor -- even when three other players jumped in. Everything looks tack-sharp, and plenty of extra bits have been added or tweaked in Diablo III's PS4 version. Just wait 'till you see the glow of a freshly dropped health globe reflected in a pool of stagnant water.]]>

I’m here in Anaheim for Blizzcon 2013, and as anyone who knows me might have guessed, the first thing I did when I got here was make a beeline for the Diablo III booth to get some hands-on time with its in-development PS4 version.

Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way first: Diablo III looks good on PS4. The demo I played didn’t stutter or hitch once — the PS4 version runs at 1080p and 60FPS or better throughout, as confirmed by Production Director John Hight when I spoke with him on the show floor. Everything looks tack-sharp, and plenty of extra bits have been added or tweaked in Diablo III’s PS4 version. Just wait ’til you see the glow of a freshly dropped health globe reflected in a pool of stagnant water.

Diablo III’s DualShock 4 controls are still being tweaked and perfected, but the touchpad implementation today was largely gesture-based, swiping left and right to switch to different inventory and skill subsections. It’s pretty hard to improve on the perfection of Diablo III’s radial menus as they are on PS3, but DualShock 4’s touchpad makes for a suitable change of pace, if only to mix things up once in a while.

DualShock 4’s light bar glows a different color for each player. Paired with existing on-screen indicators, it provides that much more instantaneous visual feedback — handy when things inevitably start getting out of control on the battlefield.

And of course, the improved ergonomics and analog sticks on PS4’s new controller will make marathon sessions significantly more comfortable.

Reaper of Souls, Blizzard’s recently announced expansion to Diablo III, will be included with the purchase of Diablo III on PS4. In it, Malthael, the former Angel of Wisdom, has become the Angel of Death, and has generally bad things in mind for humanity. Predictably, you’re not too keen on letting him have his way.

The demo I played at Blizzcon was a small section of the new act that takes place after the end of Diablo III’s main campaign. The 15-20 minute section was draped in dark, blue and gray tones and a permeating sense of dread. Appropriate, given the expansion’s premise.

Playing as the Crusader, Reaper of Souls’ new character class, I smashed and dashed through hordes of demonic baddies, utilizing a bevy of devastating new moves to mow down anything in my way. Described by the design team as a “war machine made human,” the Crusader attacks enemies up close, but has plenty of area-of-effect attacks and buffs to make him a versatile mid-range brawler as well.

A few highlights from the Crusader’s repertoire (these may change, as Reaper of Souls is still in development):

Smash: Just about what it sounds like. This attack actually reaches a bit ahead of the Crusader, meaning you don’t need to risk completely exposing yourself to retribution from any foes who survive more than one hit.

Consecrate: An area-of-effect buff that encompasses the majority of the screen, continually healing any fellow fighters within its reach.

Laws of Valor: Another buff, this time an immediate boost to all allies’ dished-out damage.

Falling Sword: An earth-shaking attack that must be used sparingly, given its moderate cooldown time. The Crusader leaps into the air, then slams back into the ground, damaging all enemies around him.

Steed Charge: A quick way to get out of (or into) trouble quickly. The Crusader mounts a phantasmic steed, running through enemies — and leaving a trail of fire in his wake, given the right rune selection — without a second thought.

Heavenly Strength: A passive ability that gives the Crusader the power to wield a two-handed weapon as well as a shield, allowing for truly terrifying equipment combos.

One last treat for current fans of Diablo III on PS3: you’ll be able to fully transfer your characters to the PS4 version when it comes out. Be aware, though, that this is a one-way transfer. Once your level 60 Demon Hunter is migrated to Diablo III on PS4, given the amount of gameplay elements and scenarios introduced in the next-gen version, there’s no going back! Not that you’d want to go back, after seeing it on PS4.

It’s a testament to Blizzard’s mastery of the gaming medium that I, a very busy person who has already sunk 60+ hours into this game on PS3, am shaking in anticipation to forfeit another 60 hours to it when it lands on PS4. We haven’t yet heard when Diablo III is going to make its next-gen debut, but I do know one thing: you guys aren’t going to hear from me for a while once it does.

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/11/08/hands-on-with-diablo-iii-and-reaper-of-souls-on-ps4/feed/72http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/reaper.jpg4.34SCEA Social Media Specialist724Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Confirmed for PS4, Playable at Blizzconhttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/10/17/diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls-confirmed-for-ps4-playable-at-blizzcon/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/10/17/diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls-confirmed-for-ps4-playable-at-blizzcon/#commentsThu, 17 Oct 2013 19:15:23 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=118217Diablo III: Reaper of Souls on PS4 will be making its public debut at BlizzCon 2013! In our action-packed single-player and same-screen co-op demos, players will explore the haunted streets of Westmarch as one of our five original classes, or test their mettle as the unyielding Crusader.]]>We’re excited to announce that Diablo III: Reaper of Souls on PS4 will be making its public debut at BlizzCon 2013!

In our action-packed single-player and same-screen co-op demos, players will explore the haunted streets of Westmarch as one of our five original classes, or test their mettle as the unyielding Crusader.

Attendees of the convention will also be some of the first in the world to take on Death itself using DualShock 4, armed with all-new social features and touchpad technology designed to help keep heroes on focused on what they do best: killing monsters.

Head on over to BlizzCon.com for panel schedules, event maps, hotel and travel information, forums, and more, and be sure to stay tuned to diablo3.com for all the latest news on Reaper of Souls.

For those of you who are BlizzCon-bound, we salute you! If you can’t make the show in person, be sure to check out the Virtual Ticket which includes over 60 hour of HD footage so you can catch all the new details on Reaper of Souls at BlizzCon from the comfort of your home.

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/10/17/diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls-confirmed-for-ps4-playable-at-blizzcon/feed/52http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/7poqltMYndM71F657bl5xZjomo5bcNHPazcnTOwhP44.jpg4.43Community Manager, Diablo III520Diablo III Out Today on PS3 With Exclusive Itemshttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/09/03/diablo-iii-out-today-on-ps3-with-exclusive-items/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/09/03/diablo-iii-out-today-on-ps3-with-exclusive-items/#commentsTue, 03 Sep 2013 16:31:05 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=114851critics are lovingDiablo III on PS3.
I hope that you’ll love it too. You can pick the game up on Blu-ray disc starting today or save some gas money by downloading a digital copy from PlayStation Store. Either way, you’ll be primed for countless hours of fun with one of the most action-packed adventures around. ]]>

Greetings from Sanctuary! Our devilish team of developers has poured blood, sweat, and hellfire into bringing our epic action-RPG to consoles. While the reviews are still coming in, we’ve been excited to see that the critics are lovingDiablo III on PS3.

I hope that you’ll love it too. You can pick the game up on Blu-ray disc starting today or save some gas money by downloading a digital copy from PlayStation Store. Either way, you’ll be primed for countless hours of fun with one of the most action-packed adventures around.

“The Hero’s Journey” – A Legendary shoulder item that includes a Journey style scarf“Drake’s Amulet” – A Legendary amulet that bears a striking resemblance to the ring that Drake wears around his neck in Uncharted“Leoric’s Gauntlets” – These Legendary gloves summon a ghostly skeleton to fight for you“Crimson Angelic Wings” – Call forth a set of red Angelic Wings“Leah’s Ring” – A Legendary ring that provides bonuses to Magic Find and Gold Find

Be sure to invite your friends over too — Diablo III on PS3 features local co-op play for up to four players on the same screen. Here’s a taste of what the Lord of Terror has in store for you and your friends:

Pick up and slay

Take a stand as one of humanity’s last defenders, choosing from among the most badass demon slayers gaming’s ever seen: the Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, Witch Doctor, or Wizard. Directly control your character against the hordes of the Burning Hells and unleash devastating powers — we’ve custom-built this version of Diablo III to feel perfect with a controller in hand.

Dodge all the things

Avoid incoming attacks or reposition yourself for more strategic use of your skills with a simple flick of the right analog stick. This maneuver is especially useful for ranged classes, but even a Barbarian can appreciate being able to sidestep a fireball.

Items and loot

You’ll find epic loot on your adventure and the PS3 version of Diablo III provides you with an easy way to know whether something you’ve picked up is an upgrade — without having to pause the action. Simply press up on the direction pad to scroll through the latest pieces of gear you’ve gathered. A green arrow pointing up lets you know you’ve found an upgrade, so press X and equip it!

No escaping your deadly skills

It’s always smart to focus fire. If you spy a demon that looks particularly menacing, you can hold down the left trigger while targeting it to lock on. All your attacks will then be aimed right for its face, right where they belong.

Did someone say “Epic loot”?

The game features targeted loot drops, too, so you’re more likely to find upgrades that are tailored for the class you’re playing. And since Diablo III is an equal opportunity treasure hunt, everyone playing together in local co-op can reap the rewards!

One couch to rule them all

It’s no fun having to wait around while your local co-op buddy answers the door or takes a bathroom break. We’ve designed the game so that when a break is needed, the rest of the group can keep playing—idle party members will automatically keep up with the group while they’re away!

After spending months laser-focused on creating a true Blizzard-quality console-gaming experience, we’re super excited that the game is here—and we can’t wait to see you all in Hell!

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/09/03/diablo-iii-out-today-on-ps3-with-exclusive-items/feed/51http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/LEAD_D3.jpg3.89Game Director, Blizzard Entertainment510Diablo III on PlayStation: Hand-Crafted for Consoleshttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/07/01/diablo-iii-on-playstation-hand-crafted-for-consoles/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/07/01/diablo-iii-on-playstation-hand-crafted-for-consoles/#commentsMon, 01 Jul 2013 17:52:16 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=109618Gauntlet, the iconic dungeon crawler that helped change the face of cooperative gaming with four players on the same screen, killing monsters as the Warrior, Elf, Valkyrie, and Wizard. ]]>I just got back from E3, where we had a good showing of the PlayStation 3 version of Diablo III and announced some cool PS3-exclusive items for the game. The excitement and energy of the show reminded me of a time when people actually left the house to play videogames. Yes, I’m talking about arcades: magical places filled with vibrant colors, flashing lights, and the never-ending clink-clink-clink of tokens cascading out of a change machine. There you could find the latest and greatest games—and people to play them with. Arcades were a uniquely social experience. You could hang out and have fun with friends, or you could make new ones while bonding over joysticks.

When we decided to bring Diablo III to console platforms, we wanted our four-player co-op to allow for the same spirit of fun that thrived in arcades. Our game had to allow for equal parts teamwork and trash talking, sweaty-palmed intensity and lighthearted mass destruction. You might remember Gauntlet, the iconic dungeon crawler that helped change the face of cooperative gaming with four players on the same screen, killing monsters as the Warrior, Elf, Valkyrie, and Wizard. Thanks to Gauntlet and other popular arcade hits, gamers fell in love with co-op play. That’s the same kind of fun we’re going for with the console version of Diablo III. Four friends on the same couch, working together to slaughter endless hordes of demons, collecting loot, and having a great time — it doesn’t get any better.

We were psyched about bringing Diablo III to consoles because we could potentially create some lasting memories for a whole new group of gamers around the world, but we needed to put in some serious work to make it happen. One thing we wanted to do was highlight the action on big screen televisions, without splitting that real estate into four little screens, so we created a new camera system that stays closer to the action, making it easier to see the animation in combat, where our characters really shine.

We also wanted to really drive home the feeling of control you got with other great action games. We decided to eliminate the pathing approach required by an indirect mouse-and-keyboard interface and introduced direct character control and an Evade command on the right analog stick, putting full tactical positioning into players’ hands. We had to work on this again and again until it just felt right.

When our team took the stage at the PlayStation booth during E3, we wanted players to see exactly what makes Diablo III the perfect fit for a night of gaming. Massacring a screen full of demons with your friends and racking up a ludicrous number of kills… we don’t think there’s anything else quite like it out there. I hope that once you have your hands on it, you’ll agree.

We’re psyched that Diablo III is coming to PlayStation 3 this summer, and can’t wait for players to round up their friends for some classic “pick up and slay” action.

Just make sure to order pizza… “Wizard needs food, badly!”

]]>http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/07/01/diablo-iii-on-playstation-hand-crafted-for-consoles/feed/76http://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/diablo-iii.jpg3.69Lead Designer, Blizzard Entertainment760Diablo III Coming to PlayStation 3 September 3rdhttp://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/06/06/diablo-iii-coming-to-playstation-3-september-3rd/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/06/06/diablo-iii-coming-to-playstation-3-september-3rd/#commentsThu, 06 Jun 2013 17:11:37 +0000http://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=107931PlayStation 3 gamers will join the eternal struggle between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells. That’s right, Diablo III is coming to PS3, so you’ll want to make sure your couch can seat four comfortably—when you’re smiting hordes of vile demons, it’s good to have someone watching your back.]]>

Greetings, PlayStation Nation! I’m excited to tell you that on September 3rd, PlayStation 3 gamers will join the eternal struggle between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells. That’s right, Diablo III is coming to PS3, so you’ll want to make sure your couch can seat four comfortably—when you’re smiting hordes of vile demons, it’s good to have someone watching your back.

So yeah, you might need a bigger couch.

My team has been hard at work custom-tailoring the PS3 version of Diablo III. We’re putting all the fast-paced action (and shiny loot) that Diablo is known for into the palms of your hands in a way that feels natural and fun to play using a controller. With direct character control and an intuitive user interface, all your demon-slaying skills are just a button-press away, so you’ll be able to dive right in and vanquish evil with reckless abandon.